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China's Economic Dialectic
For Western Marxists, what is likely to be most astonishing is the many-sided approach to Marxism displayed throughout this work. This reflects a strong emphasis on cultivating an open Marxism, drawing on different views and debates, and various movement vernaculars, in the continuing world struggle for socialism.
430 pages, Paperback
Published December 1, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 22, 2023
I read this and got it directly from International Publishers.
I recommend everyone do the same in order to support the small press.
It was a great book... if you can understand it or understand all of it. It's not for the faint of heart when tackling complex subjects. The author, a high-standing person in China, criticizes the CPC and government in China, gives them recommendations on what to do, and at times praises them for policy initiatives. It is very much conscious of the Westernization of much of Chinese academia, though not all of it, as we can see from this reader.
The author, Cheng Enfu, defends much of Marxism and Marxism-Leninism from critics and even defends the CPC on this basis here and there, though points out possible problems that the PRC will face if not averted ahead of time. It's a great book, but very technical. The information packed in this seemingly small book is very technical in general with graphs and some infographics in the pages themselves. Percentages will abound here and there and economical terms are also present. That's why I say that this book is not for everyone. You'd have more understanding reading Deng Xiaoping's speeches (which currently come in 3 volumes) than you would with this book.
Still, I enjoyed it. I was at least seeing a perspective that I don't often see. And I like that a lot. But you will not understand all of it. Still, the parts I could understand were really interesting, delving into the fundamentals of Marxism-Leninism and what the corpus of Marxism-Leninism means. For example, Cheng Enfu talking about how supply-side economics and demand-side economics in the United States are used alike, despite the seeming debate over them (as if there is a "one or the other" choice to them).
Cheng Enfu has also published articles in the Marxist publication Monthly Review; it is definitely not as technical as the translated text here. I would recommend reading them, especially his article on "Neo-imperialism." That article would garner Cheng Enfu attention in the West, especially from pro-China people within the United States and Europe and other English-speaking places. Frankly, I'd even recommend that article to those that aren't Marxist-Leninist or communist in any way. But that's up to you.
Please follow or friend me on GoodReads and we can talk about stuff whenever. My DM is always open. And please, do leave a comment.
Thanks!
I recommend everyone do the same in order to support the small press.
It was a great book... if you can understand it or understand all of it. It's not for the faint of heart when tackling complex subjects. The author, a high-standing person in China, criticizes the CPC and government in China, gives them recommendations on what to do, and at times praises them for policy initiatives. It is very much conscious of the Westernization of much of Chinese academia, though not all of it, as we can see from this reader.
The author, Cheng Enfu, defends much of Marxism and Marxism-Leninism from critics and even defends the CPC on this basis here and there, though points out possible problems that the PRC will face if not averted ahead of time. It's a great book, but very technical. The information packed in this seemingly small book is very technical in general with graphs and some infographics in the pages themselves. Percentages will abound here and there and economical terms are also present. That's why I say that this book is not for everyone. You'd have more understanding reading Deng Xiaoping's speeches (which currently come in 3 volumes) than you would with this book.
Still, I enjoyed it. I was at least seeing a perspective that I don't often see. And I like that a lot. But you will not understand all of it. Still, the parts I could understand were really interesting, delving into the fundamentals of Marxism-Leninism and what the corpus of Marxism-Leninism means. For example, Cheng Enfu talking about how supply-side economics and demand-side economics in the United States are used alike, despite the seeming debate over them (as if there is a "one or the other" choice to them).
Cheng Enfu has also published articles in the Marxist publication Monthly Review; it is definitely not as technical as the translated text here. I would recommend reading them, especially his article on "Neo-imperialism." That article would garner Cheng Enfu attention in the West, especially from pro-China people within the United States and Europe and other English-speaking places. Frankly, I'd even recommend that article to those that aren't Marxist-Leninist or communist in any way. But that's up to you.
Please follow or friend me on GoodReads and we can talk about stuff whenever. My DM is always open. And please, do leave a comment.
Thanks!
February 19, 2024
One of the most frustrating parts about having discussions with people in the US about China, especially people who consider themselves part of "The Left", is the constant implication that China's economic policies are being carried forward without critical debate around their material, political, and ideological consequences. This has always been untrue, but this book stands as one of the most helpful rejoinders to this chauvinist misconception.
No matter your position on the last 45 years of China's opening to the West, the debates and positions laid out in this book help show some of the myriad ways these policies have been wrestled with at the highest levels. Some of the articles/essays go into much sharper detail than others, but consistently Enfu explains the overarching thought processes behind the evolution of Chinese economic policy in an extremely rational, clear way.
Rather than abstract polemics about "Capitalist Restoration," the pieces here reveal three decades of fierce debate over how and how much to open different sectors of China's economy always focused on one central goal: how will it increase the prosperity of the whole Chinese people in the long run? Compared to the extremely ideological screeds we get from elites here in the West defending capitalism in the face of all evidence, Enfu frankly confronts problems created by the opening up and discussed ways to resolve them.
A refreshingly pragmatic, rational approach to macroeconomics.
No matter your position on the last 45 years of China's opening to the West, the debates and positions laid out in this book help show some of the myriad ways these policies have been wrestled with at the highest levels. Some of the articles/essays go into much sharper detail than others, but consistently Enfu explains the overarching thought processes behind the evolution of Chinese economic policy in an extremely rational, clear way.
Rather than abstract polemics about "Capitalist Restoration," the pieces here reveal three decades of fierce debate over how and how much to open different sectors of China's economy always focused on one central goal: how will it increase the prosperity of the whole Chinese people in the long run? Compared to the extremely ideological screeds we get from elites here in the West defending capitalism in the face of all evidence, Enfu frankly confronts problems created by the opening up and discussed ways to resolve them.
A refreshingly pragmatic, rational approach to macroeconomics.
December 29, 2023
It took me a good while to get through this tome - 400 pages of fairly difficult economics - but it was well worth the effort. Cheng Enfu is one of China's most influential Marxist economists, and has been for three decades. He's supportive of (and a key contributor to) the socialist market economy, but certainly gravitates towards a greater degree of government regulation and a stronger role for the planned and publicly-owned sections of the economy. As such, he rigorously critiques the neoclassical and free-market trends within Chinese and international academia. Highly consistent with the 'high quality growth' strategy being pursued under Xi Jinping, with its focus on common prosperity, cracking down on corruption, inequality reduction, and preventing the disorderly expansion of capital.
A must-read if you want to understand the Chinese economy.
Incidentally, it's positive and significant that International Publishers have published this. Slowly but surely, we're overcoming the Sino-Soviet Split.
A must-read if you want to understand the Chinese economy.
Incidentally, it's positive and significant that International Publishers have published this. Slowly but surely, we're overcoming the Sino-Soviet Split.
May 4, 2024
So far (it's early days yet) very methodical exposition of some difficult topics; academic and political Marxism, how different types of thought introduced by Chinese leaders interact. Really, really interesting
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews